Announcing First of Four for Source Thread

FoF wrote: "First of Four" is my idea for a RPG utilizing the Source engine by Valve. The world in which it takes place in is comperable to White Wolf's World of Darkness, but only in the fact that the supernatural exists in a modern setting - the system to be used by the game will be completely made by the modification team.
Of course, the player can play as one of these supernatural creatures. Current plans include having Vampires, Demons, and Mages as playable "classes", as well as your everyday, run-of-the-mill mortal.

The game itself will take place within a city. In this city, the player will be able to own/rent a residence, have a job, and otherwise live a life (including eating and sleeping... generally speaking, anyways). The player will be able to purchase non-combat related items (such as decorations and possibly furniture), travel around the city by bus and other means, and interact with the NPCs. This interaction goes both ways: It is possible for the player to be mugged on the streets, or have their appartment broken into.
This world will react to the player and their actions, as well as the actions of other characters. If the player or another character is toting a non-concealed weapon, NPCs will react. If a supernatural uses their powers in an obvious way, NPCs will notice. Etc.
Eventually, after the basic system has been perfected, the supernatural templates and multiple storylines will be added. This is second priority to completing the basic frame of the game, though - I figure that if we create a good enough basic RPG, people will be willing to wait for the accompanying story and will enjoy themselves exploring the city.

Why Source? Well for one, it's easily modable with the proper knowhow and resources. It also has a simply amazing physics engine that will, hopefully, allow for interesting and effective supernatural powers.

Currently in need of just about anyone who's willing to help. This includes mappers, modelers, animators, and (most important of all) coders. Also welcome are people who have ideas on how the RPG system should work, as well as contributors to the storylines later.

(Sorry for the laziness, but there's only so many ways I can say the same thing. ^_^; )

So there you have it, the latest of the HL2 modification efforts. As stated above, the project currently needs anyone willing to offer any sort of input, but mappers and coders are currently top priority. So if you've been itching to create a metropolis, have the knowhow to create an RPG in Source, or simply have a strange obsession with the supernatural, come on in! You can find our ModDB page here, and our (slightly under construction) webpage here.

Hope to see some of you there! ^_^

Edited by: Viktor

Too ambitious, especially for Source.Everyone thinks that fancy physics and the likes are what make a game....

\me rolls eyes

Unless you're planning on having a server with a maximum capacity of about 12 players, your "game" would crash before it even started.What skills/knowledge do you possess yourself, because it sounds like you just want a bunch of people to make this for you while you sit back and "manage".

Edited by (in order): CyanideCotdPnuts, CyanideCotdPnuts, CyanideCotdPnuts

1) Do you have any modding skills? ("Team Leader" or "Ideas Guy" don't count)

2) Do you have any modding experience? What you're suggesting is very advanced and far too hard for someone unexperienced.

Too bad physics make a game, along with AI, graphics, story, characters, dialogue... [/end smartass routine]. Stop with the rediculous argument about what does and doesn't make a game. It's seriously annoying.

I think it sounds like a fun project to work on, despite the ambitiousness. If somebody has to make something along the lines of a living, breathing society outside of big budgets and paid employees, why can't this man? I don't see anything wrong with this idea, other than the fact of vampires, demons, and mages coexisting together (sounds like you're just compiling every different fabled creature into one mod).

For what it's worth, this man really has his act together and has a clear set goal on what he hopes to achieve. Every mod needs members, so don't go attacking him if he's asking for them. Take a step back, clear your head, and then type.

Of course, I also would like to know what your skills and experience are in the modding world, since it doesn't really seem like this is your first time.

Ippo wrote: I don't see anything wrong with this idea, other than the fact of vampires, demons, and mages coexisting together (sounds like you're just compiling every different fabled creature into one mod).

I don't think there's nothing wrong in that... Just look at some Dungeon Keeper game.. there's a bunch of different similar creatures coexisting together and fighting against the "good" guys.

different similar?

ror wrote: different similar?

Smoke more weed and you'll understand what I'm saying or pay more attention in the school.. But I can explain it for your inferior mind.

Different means the various monsters Dungeon Keeper has.
Similar means these various monsters are similar to these vampires, demons and mages in this First of Four for Source.

If you don't understand now, I can't help you.

Edited by: TwinBeast

physics make a game more fun. if half life 2 didnt have physics, it would suck so much more.

I thought HL2's reliance on Physics made it suck more. It was more of a physics puzzle game than an FPS. And the physics weren't even that realistic - If you're gonna base your game on physics, don't have the player able to stick his magic hands through walls or drag plastic barrels full of air underwater with ease.

I'm constantly reading physics psychics and thinking it's some fortune telling game.

Ah, multiple responses... some of which are negative and/or unproductive, to say the least, but you take what you can get.

First of all, if you have read into the mod before bashing it, even to the degree of going to the ModDB page, you would have seen that it is intended to be single-player, so your 12 player comment is somewhat irrelevant to this mod. Even I, for all my ambitions, know the limits of modern technology. This is simply an attempt to overcome them to create a larger, more dynamic world.

My experience in creating mods? This, I will admit, is somewhat limited in actual application (ie, no mods carry my name on them), but in the areas needed to mod games I'm kind of a "Jack-of-all-Trades" kind of deal, except I'd rate myself more of a nine of diamonds. :p
By this I mean that, although I may not be the best in coding, textures, modeling, etc, I have at least a basic understanding of each and their applications and/or limitations. The limited area for me at the moment is C++ coding, which I'm trying to get the basics of, but outside the actual coding I have a vague understanding of how to get things to work in the code. I guess the best way to put it is, I know what variables I want to change and to what, I just don't know how to change them without a lot of help. ^_^;
On a slightly related note, I have created "games" before, but not anything like a computer or console game. Mostly the basic systems for board-games or RPGs. Nothing commercial or anything, just something to do to keep me occupied. Not sure if that's relevant or not... ^_^

As for the whole supernatural things, to see the most popular example of what I'm trying to go for, I'd suggest White Wolf's World of Darkness games. Although the new version has only three player choices (Vampires, Werewolves, and Mages), the old version had many, from the more popular (Vampires, Werewolves, Mages, Demons) to the rather obscure (Mummies, Changelings, Kindred of the East, etc). (On a side note, I know absolutely nothing about any in the latter category. ^_^ )

So, hopefully this answers any of your questions. If not, feel free to ask away. The more questions answered, the less to be answered later.

Edited by: Viktor

I know you said that no mod has any of your work in it... but, do you have any examples of the work you have done before or working on?

Edited by: usernamee

<Arg! Stupid crashing after posting so I have to re-write everything! Oh well... I guess you'll just get version 2! >

I wish I did, but recently just got back from an extended vacation from life and got a new computer. A better one, but unfortunately without all of the files.

As for what I can do, as I said before, I can do a little of everything, or at least understand it.
To be more specific, for the coding I occasionally dabble in the creation of scenarios for Paradox games (their most popular games being Europa Universalis and Hearts of Iron, both historical country simulators), which involves nothing but editing files in notepad. Although this is extremely simple compared to C++, it gives me a basic understanding as to what the coders need as far as information is concerned. I fully grasp the whole "AND/OR/NOT" idea, flags and variables, and so on. (Does C++ use flags? I suppose you could just have a variable that is set to either 0 or 1, but I don't know if there's a specific "flag" variable...)
Modeling is something I'm just starting to learn. I have a copy of GMAX as well as XSI's free modeling software (the one used by Valve). Although I can kind of modify existing models, I can't create my own yet. But like I said, I'm learning.
Image editing I'm fair at. I used to have Photoshop, but I'm currently using Fireworks MX. All I can say is I'm sure I'll get used to it eventually. ^_^;
I was working on a map once for HL1 (a moderately sized office building for Counter-Strike, if I remember correctly), but I think my best credentials for creating believable/realistic settings come from my experience in Role-Playing games, both as player and as GM/DM/ST/etc. Running the games helped because it taught me to balance complete realism with making a specific area "beatable" (although I am known for having players who take on things they can't handle getting their just reward... ). Being a player helped by teaching me what not to do through a rather painful process of sitting through some of the worst RP sessions I think I have ever experienced. We'll leave the description at that.
Hmm... what does that leave... oh yes, team management. Well, the closest thing I have to controling an online team at this point is something I did a few years back where I created and ran an online nation simulation game. It lasted a few months before I had to leave due to real-life reasons, and I it continued for a few more years after that, even spawning a spinoff game. I have no idea what happened to either one of them, though. One/both of them could still be around for all I know.
<EDIT: My God, it's actually still around! Granted the name has changed (from International Relations to Global Politics) and most if not all of the people are probably different, but jeez, it's still there! Well... I feel good right now. >

And so you have my little mod-making resume. May it satisfy your appetite without being too fattening.

Edited by: Viktor